I have been making some additional payments on top of my monthly IBR payment such that I am paid ahead past the 1-year recertification mark.  My monthly payment for my next autodebit went up to the standard repayment plan amount because I have not yet recertified my income (that got sent in ASAP!!)

I am basically being penalized for paying ahead because if I keep my automatic debit intact, I will have to pay the standard amount.  My question is:  Are prepayments while on IBR supposed to count against you this way?  Shouldn’t my servicer wait until the actual DATE that my 1-year IBR is up?  Rather than look to the billing date? 

In other words, for purposes of the 1-year time on IBR, does the actual date in time govern, or does the next billing due date govern?

What a mess!  This is a new one to me.  I recommend you contact the student loan ombudsman’s office for help straightening this one out because it is certainly bizarre and should not be the case: http://studentaid.ed.gov/redirects/ombudsman-ed-gov